Fly Tying Beads

Fly Tying Beads in-stock, no sales tax - $50 orders ship free in USA.

Bead head flies became popular on the alpine rivers of Northern Italy nearly a hundred years ago.  Glass beads were first used as weight to help sink flies which were originally fished along the bottom of local rivers with spinning rods and reels.  This method of fishing is still popular in the Tyrolean area today.  Roman Moser is credited with inventing the first brass bead-head flies that started a fly tying revolution world wide.  His unique style of flies were first tied in 1978.  They employed a pearl-gold plastic bead directly behind the eye of the hook.  They were especially productive for catching grayling.  To add more weight for fishing deeper, a brass bead replaced the plastic bead.  We first saw the Roman Moser fly patterns as they became available though Umpqua Feather Merchants in the mid-1980's.  They were an instant success on our local rivers and started a revolution in fly tying that continues today. Now beads are counter-bored so that they can more easily be placed on a hook.  The most popular beads are made from machined brass.  Beads made from tungsten are even heavier per size, but much more expensive.  Standard brass beads are now plated with gold, Nickel, black and copper colored finishes.  Beads coated with bright colored baked-on enamel are popular with salmon & steelhead anglers.  Beads have influenced the development and use of metal cone-heads and dumbbell shaped eyes.  Beads are here to stay as fly tying components.